A teenager who works long hours each weekend and rarely sees friends is among the winners of the ECHO's Local Heroes competition.
Abbi Odger, 19, works and studies every day in order to care for people after being inspired by her auntie's battle with cancer. She works 12 hours shifts at a care home for people with dementia each weekend, and gives up much of her social life, often cutting nights out short, in order to get to work and study at sixth form.
Abbi, from Anfield, was announced as a winner of our Local Heroes competition with Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill and Hotel Indigo after being nominated by her mum Gail who called her daughter "truly a special young woman". Nominating her for one of five prizes, Gail said: "She has worked and studied so hard over the last three years that now her commitment and hard work is hopefully coming to fruition.
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"She has given up being a young adult and partying to commit to studying and working in a home that requires dedication and commitment. Abbi has seen and dealt with things whilst working that not many people will ever see or understand."
Abbi has now secured a place to study at Edge Hill university to study Adult Nursing in September and her dream is to work as a midwife. She won an overnight stay at Hotel Indigo and a free bottle of prosecco on arrival. She is one of five winners of our competition, celebrating our city's unsung heroes, who will be announced on each day of this week.
Speaking to the ECHO, Abbi said: "I've always just been inspired by my auntie Michelle (McMahon) who has been battling with about 3 different cancers. Since I was a little kid I was wanting to look after people.
"It has been hard. It's stressful. Like there was always the thought what if I've done all this for nothing and I don't get in to university.
"I didn't know I'd even been entered until I asked mum why I was getting a call. I'll probably go with my boyfriend I think.
"I know I wanted to be in the health and care sector since I was young. That's why I took on the role at the dementia care home.
"I'm home a lot earlier than my mates are. I make it work but it helps that I just really really enjoy what I'm doing."
"I'll definitely miss it when I go to university. You learn different ways to communicate with difference people because they all need different things.
"I'm nervous but dead excited. Mum was shocked that I'd won. They're grateful because I'm in sixth form Monday to Friday then work at the weekend so I get no time off."
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